Journal of evaluation in clinical practice
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There was local concern over possible delays in the diagnosis and referral of patients with suspected colorectal cancer and interest in understanding more about patients' experiences of diagnosis. ⋯ Feeding back qualitative data from patients together with audit results seemed a powerful lever to stimulate action about hospital delays. Average waiting times dropped quickly and remained low due to the continuing national focus upon them. Seeking GP views may have promoted the use of referral pro formas, but monitoring waiting times distracted from a more thorough evaluation of their use. Qualitative data from patients raised awareness of their experience, but was time-consuming to collect and we had limited success in using it for specific initiatives around communication and support.
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The aim of the study was to see if the introduction of clinical support workers (CSWs) at a teaching hospital could reduce the medical work intensity for junior doctors without compromising the quality of patient care. ⋯ This study shows that other allied health professionals can be trained to carry out certain tasks that previously were only performed by doctors. This not only reduces the impact on junior doctors' hours but can also improve patient care, with fewer delays encountered when patients are waiting for a procedure.
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To explore stakeholder perspectives of the implementation of a new, national integrated nurse-led telephone advice and consultation service [National Health Service 24 (NHS 24)], comparing the views of stakeholders from different health care organizations. ⋯ As the delivery of unscheduled primary health care crosses professional boundaries and locations, different organizations and professional groups must develop new ways of partnership working, developing trust and confidence in each other. The results of this study highlight, for the first time, the key importance of understanding the professional ownership and identity of individual organizations, in order to facilitate the most effective mechanisms to enable that partnership working.